Aruban Contributions To Finding Natalee...

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Aruba is remembering the one year anniversary of the missing young lady Natalee Holloway. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family

Introduction

Almost from the moment Natalee Holloway disappeared, the nation of Aruba has been focused on finding her.

1. Aruba has, from the start, continuously carried out a highly professional extensive and intensive effort to find Ms. Holloway.

2. Aruba has continuously, from the beginning, sought and used strategic help from the world’s experts on missing persons.

3. The people of Aruba have and will continue to cooperate and collaborate with private search and investigative efforts by the Holloway and Twitty families, and all credible groups.

4. The people of Aruba will communicate their efforts in this case through public channels, diplomatic channels, and in other useful ways; and to correct and clarify reports and information provided by others who are less informed or in error.

5. The people of Aruba treasure their well-established ties with the U.S. It is this friendship and mutual respect for each other that will help all of us successfully get through this very difficult time.

The people of Aruba have responded to this situation with great sympathy for the anguish the Holloway and Twitty families are experiencing. The Aruban community, police, government, and many members of the Aruban business community have gone out of their way to assist the Holloway and Twitty families by participating in extensive searches of the island, donating large sums of money to search efforts, offering discounted as well as complimentary services,handing out ribbons and flyers, holding vigils and prayer services, setting up radio station tip hotlines, and cooperating fully with police officials.

Support in Funding the Search and Rescue Efforts of Ms. Natalee Holloway

When Ms. Natalee Holloway was first reported missing, the Government and the entire community of Aruba were shocked. This shock and empathy with the family of Ms. Holloway resulted in an immediate outpouring of help in many forms.

• Moral support
• Financial contributions
• Contributions by the hotel industry
• Contributions by the local Government and other private sector members

Following is a listing of some of the contributions made to the search and rescue effort of the missing teen.

There have been many more that wish to remain anonymous.

Moral Support

• A psychologist was offered by the Government of Aruba and used by Mrs.Twitty
• A media liaison was offered by the Government of Aruba and used by Mrs.Twitty’s family for U.S. media coverage
• Vigils by the community were held on various occasions to show support
• Churches of all denominations held masses to pray for Natalee’s well being and safe return
• Private group searches were held for weeks
• Moral support in the form of visits of Government officials to the family

Financial Contribution

Banking members of Aruba US $ 20,000.00
Contributions from the Aruban Hotel Industry
The Wyndham Resort (Lodging and work space for the family) Cost US $ 30,000.00
The Brickel Bay Hotel (Lodging, food and beverages of Equusearch) Cost US $100,000.00
The Holiday Inn (Lodging and meeting facilities) Cost US $ 89,736.00
Playa Linda Beach Resort (Lodging) Cost US $ 9,016.63

Other Contributions

• Numerous private boats for the search
• Use of a submarine as transport for the search teams
• Use of a helicopter
• Transportation for the search teams/members
• Search efforts by the Dutch Marines and the Coast Guard
• Search dogs
• Dutch F-16 planes with approximately 40 highly-trained experts (plus housing and food and beverage for these experts in Curaçao)
• Machinery for the many searches
• Half day off for all civil servants to participate in the search efforts
• Assistance from the Search and Rescue team of Aruba
• Assistance from the Red Cross of Aruba
• Boat/diving equipment (such as tanks, refills) and use of the Pelican Pier for the search operation
• Fire Department devoted several days to draining ponds
• Dutch investigators flown in to interrogate the suspects and review the investigation
• Judges specially flown in from Curaçao
• Restaurant contributions for free meals
• Free rental cars to the family and various search teams
• Various other contributions to the Texas Equusearch

The total contribution of the island of Aruba, in this case, is substantial – monetarily as well as non-monetarily.

Natalee Holloway, an 18-year-old student from Alabama, was reported missing on May 30, 2005. Concerted efforts by the government, law enforcement officials as well as the entire Aruban community have since been ongoing in helping to determine her whereabouts.